The RSU 16 budget process has now reached the second referendum vote, to be held June 21 at the regular voting places in Minot, Mechanic Falls and Poland.

The residents of those three towns will be asked to vote on a budget request that is $1.7 million less than the budget was in 2008-09. It reflects a per-student expenditure that is $917 less than the state average; 171 school systems in Maine will spend more than Regional School Unit 16.

The RSU 16 board and administration have cut school expenditures by more than $2 million during the past three years to respond to the recession and reduced state aid to schools. That has resulted in 74 position cuts and numerous reductions in programming.

Further cuts will endanger the ability of RSU 16 students to compete.

The question before the three towns is, “Do we really value education or is our overriding value self-interest?” At the recent budget meeting, one speaker presented a per-day cost to express her belief that teachers were overpaid. The per-day increase in taxes for someone who owns a $100,000 home will be 14 cents in Minot, 4 cents in Mechanic Falls, and 6 cents in Poland.

Is that too much to invest in the children?

If voters in the RSU 16 area truly value education, they must vote “yes” on June 21.